Haruhiro's group headed out to hunt some goblins, and Drake decided to accompany them.
He wanted to spend some more time with Shiraori before doing anything else.
After all, she had been his first kiss.
The group moved cautiously through the forest.
Then—
Rattle!
Rattle!
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the trees.
Everyone immediately became alert.
Yume, perched on a nearby tree branch, scanned the area ahead, trying to locate the source of the noise.
Nothing.
She narrowed her eyes and leaned forward, trying to get a better look.
Drake couldn't help but glance upward.
At her rear.
Shiraori noticed.
She turned toward him and pouted before reaching over and pinching his arm.
"Ahi!"
Drake rubbed his arm.
"What was that for, Shiraori?"
"You know."
She didn't elaborate.
Drake sighed.
"Right…"
Before he could say anything else, Yume suddenly jumped down from the branch.
She landed lightly on the ground and immediately drew her bow.
"Everyone, get ready!"
Her voice echoed through the forest.
"There's a swarm of little goblin coming at us!"
"A swarm?" Manato repeated, immediately gripping his weapon.
At that moment—
[Ding!]
[A new quest has been generated!]
[Objective: Eliminate the Goblin Swarm]
[Reward: Class Promotion]
Drake's eyes briefly widened.
Class Promotion?
Interesting.
The others drew their weapons as well.
Shiraori raised her staff, mana beginning to gather around its tip.
"Guys, let me take care of this."
Drake stepped forward and drew his iron sword.
"What? Drake, there are too many of—"
Shiraori began.
Drake simply turned toward her and smiled.
"Don't worry."
He turned back toward the rustling bushes.
The noise grew louder.
Branches snapped.
Leaves shook.
Then—
Twenty goblins burst out of the bushes at once.
Drake's expression didn't change.
His skills activated.
[Sword Mastery]
[Lv. MAX]
[Your mastery of the sword has reached the pinnacle.]
[+150% Power, Speed, and Precision to all sword techniques.]
[(Base 50% + applied Sword Genius bonus: 100%)]
[Cut]
[Lv.35]
[Your ability to cut with the sword is tremendous.]
[+153% cut power.]
[(Base 51% + 102% from Sword Genius bonus)]
[Tool Adept]
[Lv.30]
[Any object you wield functions as if it were a proper tool or weapon.]
[A stick cuts better. A pan hits harder. A shovel blocks blades.]
[+130.5% efficiency to used tool.]
[(Base 43.5% + 87% if it is a sword — Sword Genius bonus)]
Air began to weave around Drake's blade.
The light reflecting from the polished metal seemed to form rippling waves across its surface.
Drake lowered his stance.
"Water Breathing…"
His breathing changed.
His grip tightened around the sword.
Then—
"Water Surface Slash."
Burst!
Drake swung.
A single flash of steel tore through the swarm.
The twenty goblins froze.
For one brief moment, nothing happened.
Then their heads separated from their bodies almost simultaneously.
Thud.
The forest fell silent.
[Ding!]
[Quest Completed!]
[Your class Thief is evolving…]
[Detecting great cutting skills…]
[Your class has been promoted to Executioner (Rare)]
[All of your Thief skills are evolving…]
[Backstab → Decapitation]
[Stealth Walk → Shadow Veil]
[Slap → Disarm]
[Swat → Disrupt]
[Shatter → Stomp]
[Widow Maker → Bounds of Death]
[Ding! The System panel is getting messy… readjusting…]
[A new section has been created: Special Skills!]
[The skill "Water Breathing" has been moved to the Special Skills section!]
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Twenty goblins had just been killed.
With a single slash.
Haruhiro's mouth hung slightly open.
Manato stared at Drake.
Yume's bow remained half-raised.
Even Shiraori looked at him in disbelief.
Haruhiro finally found his voice.
"Drake…"
Drake turned toward him.
"What?"
"What… was that?"
Drake simply smirked.
"It's something I learned in my village."
Haruhiro's expression twitched.
His village…?
He didn't believe that for a second.
Shiraori, however, wasn't interested in questioning him.
She gently tugged on Drake's sleeve.
Drake looked down at her.
She stared at him for a moment, her cheeks slightly pink.
"You're…"
She hesitated.
"…You're amazing."
Drake smiled.
"Thanks."
Manato opened his mouth, clearly about to ask another question.
But before he could say anything—
Drake suddenly raised a hand.
"Wait."
His expression changed.
Everyone immediately noticed.
"What is it?" Manato asked.
Drake didn't answer.
His Supernatural Senses had already picked up something.
He sniffed the air.
Once.
Twice.
Sniff.
Sniff.
His eyes narrowed.
There was a metallic scent in the air.
Blood.
Human blood.
"Someone's in danger."
Drake pointed toward the distant trees.
"Over there."
Manato's expression became serious.
"That's…"
He looked in the direction Drake was pointing.
"…That's where the Silver Forest is."
Drake didn't hesitate.
He immediately took off running.
"W-Wait!"
Haruhiro shouted.
But Drake was already disappearing between the trees.
Haruhiro's group exchanged glances.
Then they hurried after him.
To be continued...